George V (1910-36)

Gold Sovereign, 1920 S, Sydney Mint, obverse bust engraved by Edgar Bertram MacKennal, bare head left, B.M. on truncation, toothed border both sides, “GEORGIVS V D. G. BRITT: OMN: REX F. D. IND: IMP:” rev. struck en medaille, engraved after Benedetto Pistrucci, St George slaying dragon with sword, horse with long tail, broken lance on groundline to left, WWP in relief under lance, S for Sydney in relief on groundline at centre, date in exergue, tiny B.P. to upper right, edge milled.

The greatest rarity in the Colonial Gold Sovereign Series, most specimens are housed in institutions and this represents an extremely rare opportunity to acquire a piece of numismatic history of the utmost importance.

Awaiting estimate.

George III (1760-1820)

Gold Sovereign, 1816, engraved by Thomas Wyon Jnr. after Pistrucci’s model, small laureate bust obverse with a crowned shield reverse, date below. Struck in high relief as a proposal for the new currency Sovereign, such patterns pieces are of the highest rarity and survive as an illustration of what could have been. The Bentley Collection also contains other off-metal strikes of this variety of pattern.

Awaiting estimate

George IV

Proof Gold Sovereign, 1825, second bust with date below, engraved by William Wyon after Francis Chantrey’s model, second crowned shield reverse, engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen. This is a proof of the second type of Sovereign for the reign of George IV. The Bentley Collection contains two varieties of this gold proof, a plain edge version (part one) and the milled edge piece depicted here. There are also two uniface trials struck in “Barton’s Metal” - a copper core with a layer of fine gold over the top, one of the obverse (part two) and one of the reverse (part three), all these proof strikings are very rare.

Awaiting estimate.

William IV

Pattern Gold Sovereign, 1830, second bare head right with flat topped ear, engraved by William Wyon after Francis Chantrey’s model, reverse with crowned shield of arms, date below, engraved by Jean Baptiste Merlen, struck with a plain edge. The first proposed Pattern for the reign of William IV, brother of George IV also depicts a bare headed King with a shield type reverse. There is also a uniface reverse striking in “Barton’s Metal” offered in the Bentley Collection (part three). The 1830 Pattern is a classic design which interestingly carries the so-called second bust of William used on the currency Sovereign from 1832-7. This Pattern struck from highly polished dies is very rare, especially in top quality condition.

Awaiting estimate.

Adelaide Pound

Adelaide Pound, 1852, type 2, crown over date, legends surrounding, reverse with legend and weight, engraved by Joshua Payne. These intriguing “coin-tokens” were never officially given the Royal seal of approval to circulate as coin, but circulate they did in the Colony of Adelaide as there was an emergency need for currency and newly found gold deposits needed to be converted to coin without the need to send them halfway around the World to the Royal Mint. The second type with the newer fresher dies is represented in the Bentley Collection in a wonderful state of preservation.

Awaiting estimate.

Victoria

Proof Gold Sovereign, 1888 M, Melbourne Mint, Imperial type, Jubilee type bust left, with J.E.B. on truncation, engraved by Joseph Edgar Boehm, reverse with St George slaying dragon, date in exergue, M mint mark on ground-line, engraved after Benedetto Pistrucci.

The 1888 Melbourne proof Sovereign is of extreme rarity and in a wonderful state of preservation. It is one of the key rarities in the Victorian Melbourne series in the Bentley Collection.

Awaiting estimate.

George V

Proof Gold Sovereign, 1929 M, Melbourne Mint, Imperial type, second smaller bare head, B.M. on truncation, engraved by Edgar Bertram MacKennal, reverse with St George slaying dragon, date in deep exergue, M mint mark on ground-line, engraved after Benedetto Pistrucci.

The 1929 Melbourne Sovereign proof is the rarest and finest of all the Melbourne pieces in the Bentley Collection. A major rarity of superlative quality, toned as struck.

Awaiting estimate.

George V

Perth Gold Sovereign, 1931 P, struck to specimen quality, Perth Mint, Imperial type, second smaller bare head, B.M. on truncation, engraved by Edgar Bertram MacKennal, reverse with St George slaying dragon, date in deep exergue, P mint mark on ground-line, engraved after Benedetto Pistrucci.

The 1931 Perth Sovereign proof is the final and one of the rarest of all the Perth pieces in the Bentley Collection. A superb quality rarity for this swan song issue from the Imperial Perth Mint.

Awaiting estimate.

George V

Gold Sovereign, 1916 C, Ottawa Mint, Imperial type, bare head, B.M. on truncation, engraved by Edgar Bertram MacKennal, reverse with St George slaying dragon, date in exergue, C mint mark on ground-line, engraved after Benedetto Pistrucci. The rarest Canadian currency Sovereign in commerce today, the 1916 C represents the pinnacle of the series and the biggest challenge to obtain for the collector. The Bentley Collection again contains one of the finest available.

Awaiting estimate.

George V (1910-36)

Specimen Gold Sovereign, 1918 I, Bombay Mint, Imperial type, bare head, B.M. on truncation, engraved by Edgar Bertram MacKennal, reverse with St George slaying dragon, date in exergue, I mint mark on ground-line, engraved after Benedetto Pistrucci. Struck to a specimen finish, and no doubt produced as a presentation piece for the establishment of the Imperial Bombay Mint, this highly unusual piece is a highly desirable and rare coin.

Awaiting estimate.